Window shade assembly



July 3, 1951 G}.'M.MARSH WINDOW SHADE ASSEMBLY Filed June 1, 1948 INVNTOR. Ger 0/0' M. Mars /2 TTORNE Patented July 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW SHADE ASSEMBLY Gerald M. Marsh, Liberty, Mo.

Application June 1, 1948, Serial No. 30,281

1 Claim. 1.

This invention relates to window shades and more specifically to an assembly of parts for mounting a window shade for movement to and from a position covering its window, the primary object being to provide means for raising and lowering such window shade without the necessity of handling the shade itself and capable of holding the same in any predetermined desired position.

As is well known, the conventional type of window shade assemblies in common use today, include a roller upon which the shade is wound, said rollers having complicated and expensive spring means therein accompanying a dog and ratchet assembly, all of which requires additionally the use of unsightly and bulky brackets for mounting the same in an operative position.

It is the most important object of this invention, therefore, to provide a window shade assembly wherein all of the aforesaid parts are entirely eliminated and the roller per se is provided with a pulley upon which is looped a cord, the pulling of the latter causing rotation of the roller and movement of the shade itself to and from a position covering the window.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a window shade assembly as above specified, having yieldable means for holding the window shade in any predetermined position and serving additionally to hold the actuating. cord or the like in tight frictional engagement with the pulley.

Another object of this; invention is to provide novel mounting means for the roller adaptable to be used for either mounting the shade between a pair of window frame members or on one face thereof and also capable of use with conventional types of window shades if desired.

Other objects will be made clear or become apparent during the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a broken front elevational view of a window shade assembly made in accordance with one modification of my present invention, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. I.

Fig. 3 is a broken front elevational view of a window shade assembly made in accordance with the modified form of my present invention, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line IVIV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a mounting bracket illustrating the modified form of my present invention.

Fig. 6v is a perspective view of one of the mounting brackets illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, and

Fig. 7- isv an elevational view of the spring shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the modification of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a window shade broadly designated by the numeral I0. is coiled upon an elongated roller I2 having a pair of trunnions I4, one being mounted in each end thereof.

. These trunnions I4 constitute pins driven, screwed or otherwise secured to the roller I 2, each being rotatably mounted within a respective bracket. I6. This bracket I6 is designed to be used for mounting the roller I2 and its shade I0 upon one fiat face of window frame-work I8 and is made as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Bracket I6 constitutes essentially an elongated rod having threads 20 formed on one end thereof, whereby the same may be driven into the framework I8 and provided with a shoulder 22 for limiting the extent of inward movement thereof. One end of the bracket I6 opposite to the threads 20 thereof has a U-shaped projection 24 formed thereon presenting a slot 26 for rotatably receiving the respective trunnion I4 of roller I2.

A pulley, broadly designated by the numeral 28, is secured to the roller I2 at one end thereof. This pulley 28 has a pair of spaced apart discs 30 and a hub portion 32 interposed between such discs 30. A cup-shaped portion 34 extends laterally from the innermost disc 30 and receives one end of the roller I2 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1.

Any suitable means such as a press fit, may be utilized for maintaining the roller I2 and cup 34 in relative tight engagement. An axial opening (not shown), formed in the pulley 28' and passing through both discs 36' thereof as well as the hub portion 32 receives the proximal pinion I4 of roller I2.

A flexible member 36 is looped over the hub portion 32 of pulley 28 and may constitute either a chain as illustrated in the drawing or a cord or the like if desired. By the same token, this member 36: may either constitute a single length of chain or have its ends joined to present an endless actuating member. A spring 38 is interposed between the member 36 and frame-work I8 in the manner shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. This spring 38 is formed to present an elongated loop and is secured directly to the proximal bracket 36. One leg 40 of the spring 38 has a width slightly less than the width of the hub portion 32 of pulley 28- and fits therein in biased relation against the member 38. The leg 42 of this spring 38 is appreciably wider than the width of leg 4!] and has an opening 44 formed therein for receiving the bracket Hi. This leg 42 of spring 38 is; thus threaded upon the bracket I6 and is disposed between shoulder 22 of bracket I6 and the frame-work I8. Therefore, as bracket I6 is secured to the frame-work I8, spring 38 will be held in place. If desired, this spring 38 may be welded or otherwise afiixed integrally withthe bracket I6.

The hub portion 32 of the pulley 28 is provided with a plurality of indentations 46 throughout its periphery for receiving the individual lengths of the chain member 36 r It is clear from the foregoing that manipulation of the device through pullingof either'of the lengths of chain 36, will cause rotation of pulley 28 and thereby of roller I2. The spring 38 being in yieldable engagement with the chain 36 V will hold such chain 36 within the indentations 46 and prevent slippage of chain 36 as it is pulled to rotate pulley 28. This spring 38 serves the additional function. of holding the shade I in any predetermined position because of its bearing tightly against chain 36 and holding the same against the hub 32 of roller 28. The inherent weight of shade I0 will not be capable of causing rotation of roller I2 against the action of spring The entire assembly, including roller I2 and its shade I0, may be easily removed from the brackets I6 by simply flexing the leg 40 of spring 38 inwardly toward the leg 42 thereof. It is not necessary through use of the assembly just described, to handle the shade I0 and, therefore, the same will not become torn or soiled during use.

In the modification of my device illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, a window shade I00 is mounted upon a roller I02 having pin-like trunnions I04 in the same fashion as above described with respect to Figs. 1 and 2.

A pulley I06 formed precisely as above described with respect to pulley 28, receives a chain or the like I08. In lieu of the type of spring as above described with respect to member 38, a spring I I0 is used. This spring III! is an elongated leaf spring having a curved portion II2 conformin to the contour of hub II4 of pulley I06 and is fastened directly to the frame-work II6 upon which the assembly is mounted.

It is to be noted, as shown in Fig. 3, that this modified assembly is disposed between a pair of spaced apart frame members II8 forming a part of the frame-work H6 and the spring IIO has a laterally projecting pin I20 that is driven into the proximal frame member H8. This pin I20 may either be threaded or preferably, as illustrated, be polygonal in cross-section to the end that as the same is driven into the member H8, the spring I I0 will not rotate within member II8 but will be held biased against the chain I08 to hold the latter against the hub member II4.

In lieu of the bracket I6 shown in the modification of Figs. 1 and 2, a pair of brackets I22 and I24 as clearly illustrated in Figs. and 6.

respectively, are used to journal the trunnions I04. The bracket I22 has one end thereof pointed and threaded as at I26 and is provided with an up-turned U-shaped projection I28 at that end thereof opposite to threads I26. There is no limiting shoulder on the bracket I22 and it may be turned into the proximal frame member II8 as illustrated in Fig. 2 to an adjusted position for-receiving roller I02. A slot I32 is formed in the projection I28 of bracket I22 extending inwardly into the bight thereof and in communication with the slot formed by the legs of projection I28. Thus, by use of a screw driver or like 4 tool, the tool inserted in the slot I32, the bracket I22 may be driven into the frame member II8. By use of the bracket I22 as formed, the conventional type of window shade assembly having a flattened trunnion may be used, such trunnion fitting within the slot I32. The bracket I24 at the opposite end of the roller I02 is also provided with a pointed end having threads I34 formed thereon, the opposite end I36 thereof being tubular for receiving the corresponding trunnion I04. This tubular portion I38 of bracket I24 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed slots I40 intersecting the cavity within the member I38. These slots I40 accommodate a screw driver or the like for driving this bracket I24 into the proximal frame member II8. It is clear that through use of these two brackets I22 and I24 the roller I02 is free to rotate and such roller may be easily removed or replaced by lifting one end thereof within the bracket I22 upwardly out of the legs of projection I28.

The assembly just described operates in precisely the same manner as that illustrated in Figs. 1 .and 2 with respect to the actuation of chain I08. The spring member IIO will hold'the chain I08 in tight frictional engagement with the hub II4 of pulley I06 and also function to prevent rotation of roller I02 because of the inherent Weight of shade I 00. This shade I00 may then be raised or lowered without the handling thereof and may be positioned in any desired covering relationship with respect to the window with which it is designed to be used. a

While several modifications of my present invention have been illustrated and described, it is clear that many additional modifications may be made within the scope of the invention particularly concerning details that might be used to prevent rotation or other displacement of the brackets I6, I22 and I24 within their respective frame members. It is therefore, desired to be limited only by the spirit of this invention as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

In a window shade assembly, an elongated roller; means at each end respectively of said roller for mounting the same on a window; a pulley secured to said roller adjacent one of said means; a flexible member looped over said pulley; and an elongated loop of resilient material interposed between the peripheral edge of said pulley and the window for holding the flexible member in frictional engagement with the pulley,said loop having a length thereof bearing against the member and an opposed length provided with a perforated, lateral ear, said one means receiving said ear for attaching the loop to said window.

GERALD M. MARSH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 25,644 Holmes Oct. 4, 1859 52,296 Lamberson Jan. 30, 1866 111,405 Vose Jan. 31, 1871 183,990 Tiffany Oct. 31, 1876 440,899 Peden Nov. 18, 1890 1,867,974 Keough July 19, 1932' 2,180,311 Nisenson :Nov. 14,1939 

